Treating Substance Use Disorders at Triple Divide Lodge
We believe that addiction is a primary illness along with other co-occurring issues and needs to be treated concurrently with them. Substance Use Disorders aren’t necessarily a symptom of other conditions but are problematic in their own way. Because of the behaviors associated with substance abuse, parents and families may think there are underlying issues being masked. While this can happen, it’s also true that young people may start to depend on drugs and alcohol for no other reason than that they want to fit in. Their propensity to abuse substances gets triggered and dependence progresses in ways that others may not experience. This is why we address addiction as the primary illness.
Teen Addiction: Is It Just a Phase or Something More?
Parents of children struggling with substance use often have trouble identifying that the behaviors they are experiencing are symptomatic substance abuse issues. As kids begin acting out and pushing them away, parents start to wonder “what’s really wrong with my child?” When parents begin to recognize that these behaviors are symptoms of addiction, they can start to do the work of understanding and getting their child help.
The stigma associated with addiction can make it difficult for families to accept this reality. By understanding the intricacies of addiction, parents can let go of the shame and pain they are feeling.
Your child needs help, and we can guide them toward a healthier, happier life. You are not alone in this.
Substance Use Disorders are one of the hardest issues to accept. The symptoms of it are often behaviors that lead to embarrassment and shame. Shame over what is becoming of them. Shame over how others will perceive them. Shame about them being judged. This results in a reluctance to seek help. We know! We’ve heard it and seen it. It can also lead to parents to question their own abilities; their own skills; even, their own sanity. Families don’t have to continue in this spiral.
The first step toward healing for families is education. Your son needs to understand the nature of his addiction and how it manifests. As parents, you must learn how to help your child and support them through this journey. Our family programming helps clients gain the skills to work together as a family and overcome the pain and challenges of addiction.
12-Step Programming Helps Clients Fight Addiction
12-step programs are a tried and true method for helping those with Substance Use Disorders get their lives back on track. By meeting people where they are in their recovery journey, the 12-steps encourage cognitive and spiritual growth that aids recovery. We provide in-house 12-step programming while also exposing clients to 12-step programs outside of campus. This helps clients see real-world applications of the program outside of treatment, better preparing them for the future.
Focusing on Relapse Prevention
Relapse (return to use) can be seen as a failure and it certainly is through the eyes of the sufferer. But the shame experienced from relapse can often lead individuals reluctant to seek help. And while, we do not view relapse as a necessary part of the recovery process it can and does occur. For individuals that have returned to use, we want to find a balance between what worked and what didn’t work. While at the same time acknowledging the feelings of failure and shame in a non-judgemental accepting way that helps increase willingness and desire for recovery.
The cycle of relapse, really, starts well before use occurs. It starts by having an understanding of the chronic nature of the condition. From there, cycles and patterns can be anticipated; feelings and belief systems can be recognized, and intervention strategies can be activated to interrupt ones’ likelihood of returning to use.
As part of our treatment program, we want clients to understand that relapse is not failure. Oftentimes, relapse is a natural part of recovery, providing individuals with learning experiences and a better understanding of the nature of their addiction. Relapses show us patterns or cycles that are leading someone back down the course of using again. Relapse prevention is the process of learning, recognizing, and identifying so that we can interrupt that pattern prior to use.
We help our clients understand their triggers from a nonjudgmental place. Our goal is to help clients understand themselves in order to manage their recovery without the shame and self-hatred that many with Substance Use Disorders struggle to overcome. Identifying where they’ve been successful and assessing what is and isn’t working is part of their therapeutic process. Recovery is a learning process, and we meet students wherever they are on their road to a better life.
